..... True mindfulness emits a powerful, authentic energy that is absorbed into the walls and furnishings of a home, so that when friends, family, and even strangers come to visit, they, too, can feel the sense of sanctuary and authenticity evoked by the home.
..... While certain elements contribute to a home sanctuary, creating one requires no particular style. It is not a certain decorative look; it can be most any type of construction or style if the feelings and energy emitted by the home speak deeply to one’s heart.
..... Does your home speak to you? How do you feel when you walk in? Does it lift your energy, your spirit? Or do you suddenly feel low, yet don’t understand why? The four walls of your home do indeed speak to you on a subtle level. Have you listened to them lately?
..... There is an art to creating a sanctuary of your home, to evoking the subtle feelings of connection with your inner self, others, your immediate environment, and the world at large. And this art is unique to each person.
..... Preserving the original architecture of a high-quality dwelling is a way of keeping the energy of the original craftsmen and artisans intact. In this manner, you maintain the authenticity and capture the spirit of the original structure.
..... In our featured home, the elements of sanctuary include an astute awareness of the energy of this turn-of-the-century Victorian farmhouse in Santa Barbara, California. The owners, James Paul and Juliet Rhode Brown, have consistently upgraded and, at the same time, maintained the original integrity of the structure. Named “The Enchanted Garden,” this home was used as the location of the TV series The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Coincidentally, the spirit of the original owner, Mrs. Neal, who built the house in 1906, is allegedly still at home here, too!
..... These walls speak the life and soul of the original craftsmen, artisans, and builders. But a home-as-sanctuary is also defined by the people who live there. Juliet is completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is director of the Santa Barbara Intuition Group. James is the president and founder of Blue Sky Radio, a national radio syndication firm, and is also a popular and accomplished fine artist in the neo-impressionistic style. They regularly use the Native American ritual of smudging (burning sage and using the smoke to “clear” each room) to cleanse and bless the energy of their home.
..... A home with authentic and comfortable energy affects the people who live there and who they are in the world; likewise, the residents contribute to the energy of the home, their life force seeps into the walls, the fabrics, the furnishings, the rugs, the accessories, and the art. It’s a circuitous exchange of harmony and chi, a relational and connected exchange.






All the front rooms are painted beautiful natural colors of muted sage, buttercream, and ivory






..... There are moments and memories of ourselves that are stored away in the walls of our homes. Many of us have a strong cord tied from our hearts to the proverbial farmhouse. Close your eyes and think back to a time you spent on a farm. Look, smell, listen. See the curved sitting rooms overlooking a sweeping porch with wicker rocking chairs and wrought iron tables festooned with linen tablecloths and laden with cherries and apples. Hear the happy slap of the kitchen screen door as children skip in and out. Smell the just picked wildflowers and freshly cut straw.
..... The Brown’s home is a period farmhouse with bowed windows and curved window seats, creating cozy nooks in which to relax. Natural materials abound, such as the original mahogany molding, wainscoting, and fireplace mantels. The farmhouse was built with redwood framing. Redwood is a wonderful source for framing because termites don’t eat redwood, eliminating the need for toxic pesticide treatments. The floors are the original white oak in a simple parquet pattern to accommodate and accent the curved rooms. Feng shui principles encourage curves, and in these round rooms energy flows harmoniously from the sitting room to the tea room to the dining room.
..... In looking for the furnishings for this home, the Browns made their decisions from deep intuitions rather than from fashion. With the loving talents of their friend, Mara Holland, they turned the house into a sanctuary that encompasses the emotional spectrum from casual farmhouse to inspirational retreat to classic elegance. Miss Holland’s Los Angeles company, A Common Thread, offers design services for homes, sets, and costumes. She handcrafted the drapes and window treatments, and hand-stenciled the fleur-de-lis designs on the walls, using natural colors such as muted shades of sage and creamy butter yellows.
..... To appreciate the tranquil and healing feelings that a home can bring into our life, we have to shift our attention from the physical, structural materials to the feelings that make up our sense of sanctuary. Home is an emotional state, as well as a living entity, a sanctuary that can bring us feelings of security, well-being, belonging, love, and family. It is only when the home enters the heart that it can become a sanctuary.


Sometimes it is difficult to "sense" the energy of sanctuary strictly from a photograph, but you will note many of the elements of home sanctuary.



1. Each mahogany fireplace mantel is handmade, containing the spirit of the original artisan.


2. In Care of the Soul, author Thomas Moore writes, "There is no reason not to imagine our own home as a place where the Muses can do their inspiration daily."




3. Original brass intricately detailed switch plates.




4. The herringbone pattern to the white oak floors allows curving lines to encourage the positive flow of chi.


The preceding article "first appeared" in the March/April 2000 issue of
Healing Retreats & Spas Magazine